University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 24
Evanston, Ill.
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
No. 21/24 Northwestern
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF/UT
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Open B1G Play at No. 21/24 Northwestern
3/22/2023 11:32:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS – In the first weekend of Big Ten conference play, the Minnesota Golden Gophers trek to Evanston, Ill., for three games against the No. 21/24 Northwestern Wildcats.
Game one is set for Friday at 3 p.m., while Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. The series closes Sunday at 3:30 p.m., all times are central. Games one and two can be streamed on BTN+ and game three will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Tracking the Gophers
Before a loss to the No. 2 ranked Cowgirls, the Golden Gophers held their longest win streak of the season, marking eight wins in-a-row. Graduate Natalie DenHartog led Minnesota over the weekend with three home runs, two of which were back-to-back against Wichita State. Pitchers Autumn Pease and Bri Enter picked up wins. Maddy Ehlke (.375), Taylor Krapf (.346), and DenHartog (.326) continue to pace the offense.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern sits a spot below Minnesota in the Big Ten rankings heading into the first weekend of conference play. The Wildcats are ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Softball rankings and hold a No. 24 spot in the NFCA/USA Today rankings. Northwestern's offense is led by Jordan Rudd (.333), Grace Nieto (.304), and Skyler Shellmyer (.293). Northwestern's schedule is amongst the toughest in the country, facing nine top 25 opponents. The Wildcats haven't lost to an unranked opponent yet this season.
Last Time They Met
In the 2022 regular season finale, Northwestern competed against the Golden Gophers at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Minnesota took the series, 2-1, over the then-ranked No. 6 Wildcats. The Golden Gophers won 8-0 through five innings in games one and two, with the Wildcats taking the final contest 3-1.
Big Ten Honors
Minnesota is the only school in the Big Ten that's had a weekly honoree in each category. Jess Oakland won Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13. Taylor Krapf won Player of the Week on Feb. 27, and Autumn Pease won Pitcher of the Week on March 13.
Here Come the Gophers
For the first time this season, Minnesota has been ranked amongst the best according to Softball America. With a pair of top 25 wins over the weekend, the Gophers received national recognition from the publication at 24.
One of Our Own
Minnesota's all-time home runs leader, Natalie DenHartog, left the yard three times over the weekend. Including back-to-back home runs against No. 23/RV Wichita State.
Offensive Leaders
Minnesota leads the conference in home runs at 37. 10 Gophers have touched all bases at least once this season. Krapf (9), DenHartog (7), and Oakland (6) lead in the category for the Maroon and Gold. While four others have at least three.
Double-Double
With 44 doubles this season, Minnesota is ranked 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten. Maddy Ehlke and DenHartog each have seven, while Kayla Chavez has six.
Easy Pease-y
Fifth-year Autumn Pease has been stellar in the circle for Minnesota. Pease holds a 12-3 record with 124 strikeouts. The Murrieta, Calif., native leads the conference in innings pitched (99.0) and wins. She also ranks seventh in the country for wins.
Game one is set for Friday at 3 p.m., while Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. The series closes Sunday at 3:30 p.m., all times are central. Games one and two can be streamed on BTN+ and game three will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Tracking the Gophers
Before a loss to the No. 2 ranked Cowgirls, the Golden Gophers held their longest win streak of the season, marking eight wins in-a-row. Graduate Natalie DenHartog led Minnesota over the weekend with three home runs, two of which were back-to-back against Wichita State. Pitchers Autumn Pease and Bri Enter picked up wins. Maddy Ehlke (.375), Taylor Krapf (.346), and DenHartog (.326) continue to pace the offense.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern sits a spot below Minnesota in the Big Ten rankings heading into the first weekend of conference play. The Wildcats are ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Softball rankings and hold a No. 24 spot in the NFCA/USA Today rankings. Northwestern's offense is led by Jordan Rudd (.333), Grace Nieto (.304), and Skyler Shellmyer (.293). Northwestern's schedule is amongst the toughest in the country, facing nine top 25 opponents. The Wildcats haven't lost to an unranked opponent yet this season.
Last Time They Met
In the 2022 regular season finale, Northwestern competed against the Golden Gophers at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Minnesota took the series, 2-1, over the then-ranked No. 6 Wildcats. The Golden Gophers won 8-0 through five innings in games one and two, with the Wildcats taking the final contest 3-1.
Big Ten Honors
Minnesota is the only school in the Big Ten that's had a weekly honoree in each category. Jess Oakland won Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13. Taylor Krapf won Player of the Week on Feb. 27, and Autumn Pease won Pitcher of the Week on March 13.
Here Come the Gophers
For the first time this season, Minnesota has been ranked amongst the best according to Softball America. With a pair of top 25 wins over the weekend, the Gophers received national recognition from the publication at 24.
One of Our Own
Minnesota's all-time home runs leader, Natalie DenHartog, left the yard three times over the weekend. Including back-to-back home runs against No. 23/RV Wichita State.
Offensive Leaders
Minnesota leads the conference in home runs at 37. 10 Gophers have touched all bases at least once this season. Krapf (9), DenHartog (7), and Oakland (6) lead in the category for the Maroon and Gold. While four others have at least three.
Double-Double
With 44 doubles this season, Minnesota is ranked 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten. Maddy Ehlke and DenHartog each have seven, while Kayla Chavez has six.
Easy Pease-y
Fifth-year Autumn Pease has been stellar in the circle for Minnesota. Pease holds a 12-3 record with 124 strikeouts. The Murrieta, Calif., native leads the conference in innings pitched (99.0) and wins. She also ranks seventh in the country for wins.
Highlights: Gophers 3, Northwestern 2
Saturday, May 02
Highlights: Gophers 6, North Dakota 2
Tuesday, April 21
Highlights: Gophers 2, Ohio State 1
Sunday, April 05
Highlights: Gophers 2, Illinois 0
Sunday, March 29